PLANT ECOLOGY

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
96	62327 	S2  	D 	PLANT ECOLOGY             	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

62032/62221

RATIONALE:

With the background of basic ecology in second year the plant biology student is in a position to study the synecology of vegetation in this third year unit. Such knowledge is of great importance in understanding, interpreting and recommending solutions to vegetation interaction and change in relation to environmental disturbance.

SYNOPSIS:

This unit studies both natural and disturbed plant communities
and the principles and methods used to sample these communities.
The effects of environmental stresses such as drought and fire
are examined and strategies for revegetation of disturbed land
are examined.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. understand how vegetation shows pattern on scales related to different influencing factors;
2. understand vegetation as a component of complex ecosystems.
3. understand the principles of sampling.
4. be able to sample vegetation to determine key components and determining factors and be able to analyse the data obtained.
5. understand and be able to use classification and ordination techniques to elucidate and investigate complex vegetational data sets.

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Sampling theory - principles, strategies, population and              15.00
community attributes

Ecosysten components and processes - inter-relationships,             10.00
population dynamics, niche and co-existence

Community ecology - community description, dynamics,                  20.00
gradients, diversity and pattern, continuum theory

Soils, climate and fire, - Australian soils, climate and              15.00
vegetation, fire, disturbance ecology

Australian vegetation - classification and distribution               15.00

Analysis of vegetation data - types and properties of data,           25.00
univariate and multivariate analyses, classification,
ordination and gradient analysis

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Jongman, R.H.G. et al. (1987) Data Analysis in Community and
Landscape Ecology. Pudoc, Wageningen.

Kent, M. & P. Coker (1992) Vegetation Description and Analysis:A
Practical Approach. Belhaven Press, London.

McDonald, R.C. et al (1990) Australian Soil and Land Survey Field
Handbook. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Moore, P.D. & S.B., Chapman (eds) (1986) Methods in Plant Ecology,
2nd edn, Blackwell Scientific Publications

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	28
Laboratory or Practical Classes               	36
Field Trips                                   	15
Report Writing                                	30
Private Study                                 	58
Examinations                                  	3

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No	*F/S	Marks		Due		Description					Wtg(%)		LBL
1 	S 	        	END S2  	3 HOUR END SEMESTER EXAM                	50.00   	N
2 	S 	        	15/09/96	ASSIGNMENT                              	15.00   	Y
3 	S 	        	PASSIM  	REPORTS ON PRACTICALS                   	35.00   	Y

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

In accordance with University policy and Guidelines,
I    an  Examiner  may  grant  an extension of  the  due  date  of  an
     assignment in extenuating circumstances;
ii   no  assignments  will be accepted for assessment  purposes  after
     assignments  or  model  solutions have been  released  except  in
     extenuating circumstances;
iii  assignments  submitted after the due date without any extenuating
     circumstances  will  attract a penalty of  at  most  20%  of  the
     assignment mark for each working day late;
iv   students who submit an assignment after the due date and wish  to
     claim   extenuating   circumstances,  must  provide   documentary
     evidence with the assignment explaining the circumstances;
v      the  unit  examiner  shall consider  a  claim  for  extenuating
     circumstances and decide on the outcome;
vi   the  decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute that  may
     arise in the implementation of these guidelines.